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Fast boats add teeth to shark defences

Jet skis at the scene of a fatal shark attack at Little Bay Beach in Sydney in February. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

NSW has boosted its anti-shark measures by launching four high-speed boats to respond to shark attacks.

Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said on Friday the rapid response vessels formed part of what he said was a "world-leading" shark mitigation program.

Mr Saunders said the boats would be "strategically located" along the NSW coast to rapidly help first responders in the event of shark incidents.

"While the chance of a shark encounter remains low, the NSW government continues to leave no stone unturned when it comes to protecting beachgoers, proudly earning us the title of overseeing the largest shark mitigation program in the world," he said.

The boats were part of an $86 million four-year spend on anti-shark technology, he said, including "smart" drumlines, shark-listening stations, shark meshing and 50 drones to spot sharks from the air.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce said fast boats added another layer of protection for beachgoers.

"Combining our eyes in the sky with a rapid response capability will provide beachgoers with even greater peace of mind this summer," Mr Pearce said.

The announcement comes after a teenage surfer was hospitalised after being attacked by a shark at North Avoca Beach on the NSW Central Coast.

In February, a fatal shark attack at Sydney's Little Cove - the first lethal attack in Sydney in nearly 60 years - sparked a ramping-up of anti-shark measures at the state's beaches.

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